Countering Cancerphobia

You see the word cancer everywhere in the media: reports that feature a certain environmental factor, exposure to preservatives, or celebrities candidly discussing their diagnosis. Even with the overall cancer mortality continuing to decline—a 33% drop since 1991, due to preventive health measures, earlier detection, and treatment advances—cancerphobia remains a concern among the public.¹ Cancerphobia affects those who have had the disease or individuals who have known people afflicted with it. This fear of cancer is normal, but when it is taken to the extreme and impacts everyday life, it becomes a source for concern.²

One reason this topic continues to scare people is that many individuals are more open about their maladies. There is less stigma with a cancer diagnosis now than decades ago. In 2024, several famous cases were publicized, including Michael Strahan’s teen daughter Isabella discussing her brain tumor on Good Morning America, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise sharing his multiple myeloma treatment plan, and Bruce Springsteen’s wife revealing her blood cancer diagnosis. Then there are the ones in the family, workspace, or community that are closer to individuals.

And even though the highest mortality honor goes to cardiovascular disease, the fear of cancer more than any other disease was described in an article that looked at 102 studies from 26 countries.³ The disease was described as unpredictable, an enemy, and a nearby threat due to knowing people with cancer. This fear is treatable with evidence-based education.⁴

In the United States:

• Approximately 5.4% of the population or 18.1 million people are cancer survivors
• Of cancer survivors, 70% have lived 5+ years since their diagnosis; 48% have lived 10+ years since their diagnosis
• By 2040, the number of people who will live 5 or more years after their cancer diagnosis is projected to increase by approximately 53%, to 19.2 million
• With diagnosis seen later in life, over 78% of cancer survivors are aged 60 years or older

Appreciation goes to every single individual who shares or creates information that fights cancerphobia, whether in person or in media such as CONQUER; to healthcare providers who provide factual, transparent data for shared decision-making with patients; and to patients who share their fears with someone to make them less scary.

References

1. National Cancer Institute. Cancer Statistics. Accessed September 12, 2024. www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/statistics
2. Center for Treatment of Anxiety & Mood Disorders. Carcinophobia or fear of getting cancer. Accessed September 12, 2024. https://centerforanxietydisorders.com/carcinophobia-or-fear-of-getting-cancer/
3. Vrinten C, McGregor LM, Heinrich M, et al. What do people fear about cancer? A systematic review and meta-synthesis of cancer fears in the general population. Psychooncology. 2017;26:1070-1079.
4. National Cancer Institute. Statistics and Graphs. Accessed September 12, 2024. https://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/ocs/statistics